Cheney residents protest possible evictions

CHENEY – Four people protested the possibility of being forced from their homes at a Cheney City Council meeting Oct. 9.

All 44 of the Myer’s Mobile Home Park residents may face eviction next June because of legal trouble between the park’s owner and the city.

“We don’t want money. We don’t want another place to live,” resident and social worker Melanee Balmes, told the council, with her seeing-eye dog at her side.

“We want to stay. We want to stay in our housing where we are safe and comfortable.”

A 10-year series of legal issues between the city and the park’s owner, Thomas E. Myers, led up to the eviction notice.

Last year, Myers was ordered by the city to put in three fire hydrants or close the park in a civil infraction order, according to Cheney City Attorney Frank Conklin.

According to Myers’ lawyer, Dennis Clayton, Myers said the city forced him to close a park entrance on Washington Street in 2000. Myers claims he must now redesign his facility, which would cost $900,000 if he follows his own safety standards, Clayton said.

Myers now plans to close the park because he can’t pay that amount.

The issue went to federal court Oct. 12. There are several other legal issues going on between the two parties as well.

Conklin said he sympathizes with the residents’ possible eviction but maintains the lack of fire hydrants is a hazard for them and the city.

“It’s unfortunate for them, but you have to look at it from the city’s standpoint,” Conklin said. “If they get a bad fire down there and someone gets killed, guess who the survivors are going to sue for not enforcing the fire code?”

Two residents later said they feel comfortable with the park’s current safety conditions.

The four residents also urged the council to meet with Myers in an executive session. Mayor Allen Gainer told the residents, “We’re discussing it.”

In other city news, sections of the Cheney wastewater treatment plant are close to exceeding their limits. On Oct. 9, the city accepted an $11.5 million loan from the Department of Ecology to expand the plant. Yet the DOE held back a $4 million grant to the city, saying the plant’s situation wasn’t as dire as more serious projects in the state.

“It didn’t rank very high. There are a lot of communities out there who are worse off,” said Alan Bogner, the DOE small communities assistance coordinator. He noted there is only $7 million in grants statewide for projects like this.

Director of Public Works Don MacDonald said the city will try for a grant a second time but is willing to take the full $11.5 million loan if necessary.

The biosolid branch of the plant is currently treating as much waste as permissible without breaking state standards. The branch treats city wastewater and shapes it into usable fertilizer through a series of steps.

More space to “cure” wastewater material is the plant’s most urgent issue.

The explosion in the city’s population over the past 10 years is pushing the plant’s limit, MacDonald said. Despite this, the plant currently runs well and isn’t exceeding limits.

“The actual treatment capacity of the plant is still at a very high level,” he said.